Corneal Microshunt for Glaucoma Aqueous Humor Diversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for glaucoma, including surgeries and medications, are often ineffective, expensive, and pose significant challenges due to anatomical differences in non-human eyes, leading to poor long-term control and high risk of vision loss, especially in emergency cases like acute angle-closure glaucoma in dogs.

Innovation Solution

A microshunt device is implanted within the cornea to divert aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the corneal surface, bypassing the trabecular meshwork, with a flow-restricting member to control intraocular pressure and prevent migration, allowing for controlled fluid flow and potential adjustment of leakage rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current surgical treatments for glaucoma are used, then intraocular pressure can be reduced, but the procedures are complex, expensive, and have poor long-term control especially in non-human species

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelong-term control of glaucomaVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical procedure is segmented into a simple two-step process: creating a corneal incision and inserting the microshunt device. This segmentation simplifies the overall surgical complexity while maintaining effective glaucoma control, avoiding the need for complex trabecular meshwork disruption or multiple surgical interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The microshunt device acts as an intermediary element that creates a controlled fluid pathway through the cornea, bypassing the need for complex anatomical modifications. This intermediary device provides reliable long-term pressure control while keeping the surgical procedure simple and adaptable across different species.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traditional glaucoma surgeries are performed, then fluid drainage can be improved, but the cost and surgical skill requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaqueous fluid drainage efficiencyVSAvoidsurgical accessibility and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The microshunt device is designed for self-retention through corneal tissue ingrowth, eliminating the need for complex fixation procedures or specialized surgical techniques. This self-service design improves fluid drainage efficiency while making the procedure accessible to broader surgical capabilities and reducing overall treatment costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the anatomical parameter for fluid drainage from the complex trabecular meshwork pathway to a simpler corneal pathway. This parameter change maintains effective aqueous drainage while significantly reducing surgical complexity and increasing accessibility across different medical facilities and species.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If existing glaucoma treatments are used in non-human species, then some pressure control can be achieved, but anatomical differences cause treatment failure and vision loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglaucoma control effectivenessVSAvoidanatomical adaptability across species

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The microshunt device design provides universal applicability across multiple species (humans, dogs, cats, horses) by utilizing the corneal pathway that exists in all these species. This universal design maintains reliable glaucoma control effectiveness while adapting to anatomical differences through a standardized corneal insertion approach rather than species-specific procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The microshunt device provides a safer, less expensive, and more effective method for controlling glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure and maintaining vision, suitable for both short- and long-term management in various species, including humans, dogs, cats, and horses, with the potential for outpatient procedures.

Implementation Method 1

aqueous humor flows controllably from an anterior chamber of the eye to the anterior surface of the cornea, bypassing the trabecular meshwork

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

a flow-restricting member to control intraocular pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow restriction:

Data Source

PatentUS9744076B2Method and apparatus for inserting an implant in the cornea of the eye

Publication Date: 2017.08.29 DA SILVA CURIEL JEANNETTE M A

AI summary

Methods, devices, and systems for inserting an implant in the cornea (105) of the eye, where the implant is a microshunt device (405,515). The microshunt device may comprise an inlet (425) section comprising at least one lumen and at least one inlet opening; an outlet (420) section comprising at least one lumen that connects to at least one outlet opening; and where the microshunt device (405,515) is configured to be implanted within the cornea (105) of an eye, where the microshunt device effects the flow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber (160,235) of the eye to the anterior surface of the cornea (410,630), bypassing the trabecular meshwork (145,240), thereby diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber (160,235) to the surface of the cornea (410,630).